Track-scope.



, 356 1 58 mmfigmgz c. E. BRUMBACK & G. CLARK. j TRACK SCOPE. l J APPLICATION FILED JAN-11,1916.

PatentedSept. 26,1916,

Uraiismaa CHARLES E. BRUMBAGK AND INGRAM G. CLARK, 0F NEWTON, KANSAS.

TRACK-SCOPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,513.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES E. BRUM- BACK, of the city of Newton, county of Harvey, and State of Kansas, residing at 320 South Valnut street, in said city, and INGRAM Gr. CLARK, of the city of Newton, county of Harvey, and State of Kansas, residing at 520 East Eleventh street, in said city, both citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful TraclcScope, of which the following is a specification thereof.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in track scope, being in the nature of an optical instrument adapted for employment in surfacing, alining and spotting railway rails in the repair or construction of road-beds.

One of the many objects of the device is the provision of an instrument whereby the operator may obtain free visual access longitudinally of and adjacent to a metallic rail without the necessity of stooping to position his eye in proximity to the rail.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ready means whereby a workman such as the foreman of a track laying crew may sight along the rails of the roadbed while standing upright readily ascertaining the positioning of any uneven, high or low places in the rail, as well as being able to readily see the graduations upon a spotboard at a distant position along the roadbed for the purpose of leveling the track in laying the same.

A still further object is to provide a sighting instrument for rails having an adjustable bracket thereon for arranging the same in a level position at a desired height upon a railway rail, further provision being made for resting the device upon a rail at either side thereof during the spotting operation.

lVith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device operatively positioned upon a rail. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with the rail shown in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof, the eye of the operator and the usual line of vision being illustrated diagrammatically. Fig. 4; is a side elevation of the device provided with a surfacing bracket operatively positioned upon a rail. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the surfacing bracket positioned upon a rail shown in vertical section. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the surfacing bracket with the slide re moved. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a portion of the device operatively positioned at the side of a rail. Fig. 8 is a face view of one of the mirror holding cases employed with the device, and Fig. 9 is an end elevation and top plan view of the spotting bracket removed from the device.

The present track scope broadly consists of an optical instrument 10 provided with a detachable spotting bracket 11 and surfacing bracket 12, the device being adapted for positioning in contact with a rail 13 in the manner hereinafter described for the purpose of readily sighting longitudinally thereof.

The instrument 10 consists of two telescoping sections 3 and 4 adapted to be retained at the desired adjustment by means of a locking band 19 and whereby the height of the instrument when employed for use may be regulated at will.

An eye-piece 1 is connected to the upper section 3 by means of a tubular portion 20,

arranged perpendicularly thereto in the form of an elbow and being cut away for the positioning of a case 2 angularly carried thereby. The lower section 4 is likewise provided with an offset extension 21 projecting perpendicularly therefrom in a direction opposite to that of the upper portion 20. The lower elbow is similarly provided with a case 5 arranged at an angle and in a plane parallel to the plane of the upper case 2. The cases 2 and 5 are preferably formed of metal for inclosing similar mirrors 18 and 17 respectively, the said mirrors being arranged with the centers thereof in substantially axial alinement with the tubular sections 3 and t and extensions 20 and 21 and whereby the eye of an observer is indicated at 22 applied to the eye-piece 1 of the device may obtain a free vision through the open lower end of the instrument. The instrument 10 is readily held in the hands of the operator and the sections 3 and 4 adjusted to the desired length so that by resting the lower case 5 upon the tread of the rail 13 the operator may place his eye 22 to the eyepiece 1 and gain a view longitudinally of the rail 13 and substantially in a plane parallel with the rail tread 24.

The spotting bracket 11 as best illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings may be employed when it is desired to rest the instrument upon the rail at one side thereof. The said bracket 11 consists of an annular split band 26 adapted to encircle the lowerextension 21 of the instrument and retained in place by means of the bolt 27 in a well known manner. The band 26 is provided with oppositely extending arms 15 and 16 in the form of rail rests and adapted to be positioned upon the rail tread 24L with the case 5 engaging the side thereof when desired to sight along the side of the rail in a manner best illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing. By the employment of the said spotting bracket 11 and any uneven places in the rail 13 may be readily located for the purpose of correcting such irregularities.

It will be understood that the retaining band 19 may be omitted if desired by forming the sections 8 and a with a sufficiently tight fit to maintain the same in the different adjustments of their telescoping relations as shown in Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings. A surfacing bracket 12 consists of a collar or sleeve 28 adapted to be readily mounted upon the free end of the lower extension 21, the same being provided with a plate 29 having a central circular opening 30 provided with a semi-circular half blind 14: spanning the upper portion thereof, the said blind having an open semi-circular sighting notch 31.

The plate 29 is provided with oppositely arranged forwardly projecting guide flanges 32 adapted to receive a slide 33 adjustably positioned therein and frictionally maintained at the desired adjustment.

\Vith the surfacing bracket 12 mounted upon the lower extension 21 of the instru ment 10, the sighting notch 31 may be positioned at the desired elevation by suitably adjusting the slide and resting the instrument by means of such slide upon the tread 2st of the rail 13, as best illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, while Fig. 5 thereof shows the said bracket 12 as so positioned. The observer may then sight along the tread of the rail for the purpose of observing a distantly positioned spot-board, not shown, as well as distant points upon the rail for the purpose of leveling and straightening the said rail.

It will be understood that the complete device provides a unitary structure including the optical instrument 10 and the surfacing bracket 12 while the said bracket may be readily detached and the spotting bracket 11 applied whenever desired.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be the preferable embodiment thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made in the form, proportion and details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed as new is 1. A device of the class described comprising telescoping sections, oppositely extending eye-piece and mouth extensions at the opposite ends thereof forming elbow portions, angularly positioned cases arranged in parallel planes at the said elbow portions, mirrors positioned within the said cases having their inner faces exposed with their central points arranged substantially upon the longitudinal axis of the said sections and extensions, a sleeve removably carried by the free end of the said mouth extension, a plate upon the said sleeve having a circular opening therein in substantial alinement with the said mouth, a half blind carried by the said plate transversely of the upper portion of the said plate opening and having a central semi-circular sighting notch arranged centrally of said opening, opposite guide flanges carried by the said plate and a slide having a rail engaging edge frictionally adjustably positioned within the said flanges.

2. A device of the class described comprising telescoping sections, oppositely extending eye-piece and mouth extensions at the opposite ends thereof forming elbow portions, angularly positioned cases arranged in parallel planes at the said elbow portions, mirrors positioned within the said cases having their inner faces exposed with their central points arranged substantially upon the longitudinal axis of the said sections and extensions, a band adjustably secured around the said mouth extensions, oppositely positioned rail rest arms carried by the said band, and a securing means for the said band.

In testimony whereof, we have aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BRUMBACK. INGRAM G. CLARK. Witnesses:

A. W. JonNsoN, NAN B. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

